Dubious Logic

Last board at the Spingold

Only matches at the highest level are afforded the luxury of two sets of boards – everyone else has to share, swapping played deals halfway through the stanza. Of course dealing machines make this possible and ensuring that the problems arrive at each table in the same order removes an element of luck. It also makes for a more captivating spectator experience, as bridge is regularly broadcast live on the Internet.

At both tables this was the final board of the 2017 Spingold, one of the major US teams events. I often write about how loathe modern players are to double and defend – this will reassure those who like to see a penalty.

A word on the match context: The Diamond team had led after the first two quarters but suffered a significant reverse in the third to trail by 41 IMPs. They were also a team of four – unusual in a week-long event – and so, no doubt weighed by personal regrets, the same four took their seats for the last 15 boards. They played tightly and recouped the deficit gradually. When the last board arrived they trailed by three IMPs.

North's double was described to East as "Moving on", value-showing rather than out-and-out penalties. Four spades was easy to manage despite the 5-1 break and declarer took 11 tricks, NS +450.

1. Spades
2. Extras, takeout in principle

In contrast to East's pass of three diamonds in the first auction – which received plaudits for tactical nous, as it offered fewer opportunities to convert into penalties – once North passed the double for penalties, East-West were in a bad place.

The defence was unremitting: North cashed two clubs and switched to ace and another spade, ruffed by South. Sementa now led a low diamond, low (!), eight, king and South resumed spades. Though West ruffed this with the eight, North overruffed with the king and forced again with a club. West was down to two trumps while South's four-card length was intact. Declarer was able to take just four trumps in hand and one in dummy. As one commentator observed, he was lucky to find the 6-5 in dummy, had it been 5-4 (with the six in North), he would have been a trick worse off. Down four, EW -800 and 8 IMPs to the trailing team who won by five.

Published Saturday 5.Aug.2017